60





The   Record   and   Guide.





January 14, 1888





In the eeneral outlook. Up to tbe close of tbe year
about 75,000 t'lns Pig I'on. and apprOKimating 100,600
tons of Steel Rails, had been booked for forward de¬
livery on much smaller quantity than last season,

RULING WnOLESALE  PRICES AT NEW YORK, JASDARY ISI"

1887.               188'*.

Copper, Like.........per lb             I'j^c.             17!.^c

Iron, Amer. No. I ,...psr ton S30.O0(a2(.U0 S30.00@ai.50

"         "      No. 3..,.      "         ia.OP@I9.00    19,59;ai30.00

"  fJivy Forge   "         17.00(ai'i'.5)    ]7.O0@17,50

"    Scotch Pig......      •■         19.aO(a3i,fO    J9.5liia33.50

Old Rails............     -        S4Si'ia25.00   20 50(2,21,00

NewSteel Rails......      "        37.00(fi3-*.l~0   3i.0n@33.00

Lead ................per lb     i\4(g}iy,c.     4JgaEc.

Pig Tin, Straits......   "        22'^®2i^^c.   3b^®37>ac.

Piates, Charn Tern.^ 30x78

..................per box  $S.3:)@ilO.0O   g8,55@135a

NAILS.—Seller J ha7e aufferi?d under lesa distd^an-
tage as regards price during the yearjust closed than
was shown duriog Ihe preceding season, and there is
reason tl think the quantity of stock distributed haa
beei larger. Of course tbc-e h is been constant com¬
plaint i-b uttliecoodi ion tf bus.npsa that seems to
lift one of ibe reffulflr elementa of tlie market, but a
full and rarely interrupted production found a steady
outlet without mucb loss ot value. durruK the fure-
p irt of ih« vear at Ipast, and the gradual shaoing off
oil price during tlie l.i-it six months look pi ceon'be
small st portion of lb'' trading, and even then did
not Birfke a^f low aa ia 1886 bv lie.©'5c. per keg.
The Kastern aid Western miuuf icturers have made
a little flurry of compeiitio'i at limPS when trenching
upon each other's territory, but appirentiy without
any serious couiplicitioDS ari-irg, and no more then
Ihe usiih! ■■ culling " on rates, ihouRb eucb a term is
hirdlv applicable, wbare nipreten^e waa made to ad¬
here to any onefix-'d line o£ value. Buyers bave at al!
times tat en matters quite easy and rarely manifesied
an inclination lo anticipate tbe future, appirentiy
f.ieling q;iitesecui"e in thuir position aod In no way
alarm'»ri about co-'t i"r supply It ia. however, be.
Itpved by ^ome of tbe Trade (hat iiotiviih=tanding
(besH measurps of precsuiion a Eiill^r accumulation
has b»en mafle io second and third b'lnds than was
intandpd, and Ibat tbe quanlily of slock next Ibe con-
Fumption outlet is greater than one > eir ago. thr.ugh
not an excessive as lo cause any fpecial uneasiness
un'ess oiiilets shrink up very materially. Opin¬
ions differ somewhat over thf I ast-mentioned con-
tine-encv. and wo notice an absence of decidedly
s'niuine prpdictinns. with now and Ihen au operator
wiilin? to admit the pos'ibiliiy of a lessened trade in
view of tbe sma'ler liyout for biiildinc onerations in
a cla'^a o' structurps wbe'e nails are largely used,
Ibquffh tbi* mi»y anply onlv iocally. The foreign de¬
mand baf b»ea about ai usual, though on tbe whole
somewhat lireer (in ptouih American order*, includ¬
ing a few quife fidl blocks for (lie West coa^t Steel
Niils bave remained in favor and m^intaiaed tbe
average advance over iron, though ii is only tbe
tboroiiffbly appreciative buyer who willingly paya
the difference.

COMPARATIVE PRIOaS OF IRON NAII.S, JANl'ARV 1.







Per keg.









Per keg.





I''7fi.-g2 1 U lud. toOOd.




1R04




83 G0©3 63 lOd, to OOd.





1330.. 4_35i;




IRSn.




2(;5fj.2 10





1881..  3 m              "




1P8fi,




, 2 !?Cij3 50





lK8a„ 3 30




1HS7.




, SSCtTjli 35          "





1883..  3 55^365     "




1688




. arO(gl3 05         ■'





Tbe following shows tbe exports of Nails from New





York during the yeara named :










Pckea,       Vnlue.









Pckps.         Value





187'!.... 47 661     e'll3.7i-6




I Hfll




... '3 11 9         8335,766





18;9 ... 47 287        163.735




1884.




.... 61.3 S           31\(!13





1880,... 5n.1fi5        211.53=1




I8«5.




...70,919           98^.631





1881,,.. tl4.749        277 213




lAsg




... 79 031           983.0P3





lft82 ... 61,333        293.874




18S7.




.,,103,793           347,239





PAINTS, OILS, ETC.—Reports differ in some re¬
spects, but not seriously, and many operators claim
it to have been one of tlie best years tbey have ex¬
perienced in a long while. A little more flurry and
snap ill tbe movements of buyers would have given
matters a livelier appearance aud made tbe eou-
flilion more evidentou the siuface, butwitbno specu¬
lative feeling extant demand developed in a tiuiet,
easy sort of way and bill after bill of goods was dis-
pnsed of and [.'fafliially swelling the general total.
IV'itliiu a ranntli or so tbere bas been some falling
away, and the demand settling down to a sort of
regular trade call for standard grades of paints.
i;i>lors, etc., with probably less ho])efiii feelings re¬
garding tbe immediate prospects than were enter¬
tained one year ago at tbis time. This, however, is
only in accord witb tba situation ou so many other
articles and seems a natural feature of business upon
any article connected with the building trade. Tbe
general claim is tbat stocks are moderate, jobbers
and retailers having bought closely for some time, it
is believed, and the production iuid importation being
kept well in liantl. On that basis good support for
v;iiiies is looked for, and some advances even are pre¬
dicted after tbe first of the year business of inventory
taking and straiffbtening out books has been con-
chided. As a rule the trade seems to be in healthy
condition aud no serious complaint lias thus far been
made about securing reasonablv prompt collections.
Linseed Oil bas found a good full demand, so much so
as to rather overreach tbe supply at times, and prices
worked gradually upward on all grades, closing well
Kiustained and crusliers as a rule quite confident.
.Spirits Turpentine has undergone tbe usual manipu¬
lation according to tbe changing relative positions of
supply and demand, but the swing of values was not
very wide and the market generally remained free
from e:;citement, witb the close well supported on
the influence of moderate and well-control led stocks.

Comparative prices of Linseed Oil fi'o;n cruslieis'
hands, January 1:

188=1.       1R85,       1886.       1R87.      1888.
Per gallon.,.. 56@57    50a55    43g45    80@39    51(g53

Tlie following shows the value of the exports of
Paints, Varnish, etc, from New York, for the years
named:

1884.         1885,         1836.           1887.

East Indies......$43,298  . ^40,680     841.333      859;832

Europe..........  333,468      175.139      159,754        171,978

South America..  145,650     109,888      145,318       100;a44
Westlndies.....    75,324       87,453       &3.073         87,035

Total..........8^38,749   $419,160   $439,467    $479,009

PL.4.STElt PARIS.—Tbe general movement of Cal¬
cined bas been a very good ono throughout tbe sea¬
son, with some Irregularity at times shown, but on
tbe whole tbe market seems to be considered as more
satisfactory in results than during the previous year.





On local account the demand waj" very much of the
usual eliaraoter as to selections made, but some in¬
crease ill the quantity bandied was shown, antl on
regular trade orders from uear-by points there came a
slight increase of call. Tl'estern orders, bowever, fell
away somewhat during the early portion .of tbe sea¬
son, owing to the workingmen's strikes, with which
consumers bad to deal, and there was no subsequent
full recovery of the business, tbough considerable
picking up was noticeable during the fall and early
winter months when it became time to put in some
accumulation. The export trade has also taken some
very fair iJarcels and afforded custom quite on an
average with former years. Generally the line of in¬
quiry has been met in a fair spirit and for some time
without any specially noteworthj' incident. When
tbe season first opened parties wbo had been serving
tbe customers of one of our local concerns, wbile the
latter was rebuilding a burned mill during the prev¬
ious year, endeavored to retain tbe trade, hut, after
cutting rates away down to the lowest notch even to
the extent of loss, and findine our local manufacturer
not only willing to go a ijeg lower but ready to deliver
promptly with tbe superior facilities of a brand new
mill at command, the contest was iibaudoned, a truce
patched up. and matters ha\'e since mcri'ed along
smoothly and tmiformly. Indeed, instead of cutting
prices there is now more talk of a coming advance,
owing to comparatively scant supplies of piaterial on
band, all manufacturers having iieeu greatly disap¬
pointed in tbe quantity of stone they have accumu¬
lated to caiTy over and commence the new season
upon. Unless some additions should work through, and
there seems to be no probability of tiiat.tbeprediction
is tbat even with a light demand cost must range
fuller in the spring, and aome discii mi nation will bave
to be shown in accepting orders until comniunication
with the quarries can be restored and a fresh supply
of rock obtained. Eastern Calcined retains a few
friends who handle it in preference to tbe local make,
not that it is any better or worse, but simply because
tbey are used to the stock and when convenient a
supply is brought on to please them. The quantity ia
becoming smaller, however, and the prices ranging
about the same as on local production.

Lump Plaster has come to hand less freely tban last
year, but tbe difference in arrivals is not a fair indica¬
tion of shfinkiiig in consumption, as most of tbe mills
bad an unusualty libera! supply of rock in hand to
commence the season witb. The falling away in the
receipts during tiie year seems to he'traceable to two
iufiuences. the first of whicb was at tbe immediate
pobit of production where extra expense in woiking—
agreat deal of it mining now—and the poor facilities ff>i'
eetting out made the development of supply a very
slow process, and the mills here were scant of stock
for a while. 1'lieii came a period when arrivals were
pri tty full, but just when a continuation of supplies
was wanted they fell away materially. Tbis was due
to a large advance in freights in Nova Scotia, where
newly-developed coal mines were putting out supplies
freely aud requiring about all the available tonnage to
make shipments to Portland. The shorter trip and
tbe better return protnptly diverted the raa.ior portion
of tbe plaster vessels, and tbe result is that manufac¬
turers lierebave not within two-thirds as much stock
on band as they did at tbis time last year. Cost of
lump has increased also on the influences mentioned,
and is (juoted about $3.00(ffia.35 for blue and 83.40@3 50
for white. Tin- quantity used tor fertiU^ing purposes
during tbe past se;isiui was comparatively moderate
and tbe call fur it invgiilar. but tbere seems to be au
idea that a large amount will be wanted this season.

COATTARATn'E  PRICES  OP PLASTER  AT  NHW   TOnii,
JiNl'AKY 1.

Limip, White.  Lump, Blue. Calc'dCity.

'4 ton.              l^ ton:             ^ bbl,

1879.............S,..,®2 80    $....@'3 75    $1 oO@'l 15

1880.............    3 25(^3 50       3 00®3 25       1 OOiii'l 15

1881.............    3 00@3 35       2 7m.3 00       1 SOffll 35

1883-............    3 A'i^a 50       3 00@'3 35       1 30(5-l 40

1883.............    375®400       3 00@-3 35       1 30(??'l 35

1884.............    300®.,..,       275@...        1 30(ffll 35

lSa5    ...........    3 75@3 85       2 50(g'3 65       1 2(mi 30

1880.............   350^....       33.5a.-..        1 30(3il 35

1887............    3 55®3 65       3 45^.3 50       1 30(S1 25

1888...........   3 4Q^ti3 .50       3 00(&i3 25       1 yor.i;! 35

Tbe following shows the imports of Liunp and tbe
exports of Calcined Plaster at New York for the years
named:





Imp'ts of Lump.
Tons.

1878..............   42.574

1879..............   -14,031

leeO..............    60,953

1881..............    00,336

1883.............    77.463

1683............  104,543

1884..............    99,144

1885............     71,099

1880.............. 111,911

1887.............. 104,535





-—Esp'ts of Calc'd—,

P'kgs.               Value.

17.357              $33,073

11.733                 14,003

11,191                 15,321

17,591                 24,419

35,765                38,034

18,0a5                 3.5,713

21,491                 30.372

3fl,313                43,313

-33,503                46,078

25,834                .35,4.35





SL.ATB.—The conditions of the Roofing Slate trade
during 1837 were unquestionably the best experienced
for several years. Some few irregularities developed
during tbeseason, hut not of a general character, and,
talien all in all, the average price has been fuller and
more closely adhered to, witb a steadier distribution
of supplies than for a considerable time preceding,
and it is believed that the aggregatp volume of busi¬
ness will considerably overrun I8S0, Of course an
increased demand was necessary to attain sucb an
end, and it bas come from all sourees ordinarily af¬
fording an outlet, the Western custom ranging far in
the lead, though the South and Southwest gave consid¬
erable assistance, and a sort of general country
trade vuas also beneficial as well as the amounts taken
for foreign shipment. On local account the consump¬
tion amounf.s to so little as to scarcely prove a factor
worthy of note, only an odd job now and then in the
way of acburcb or some public bbildJngroquir ine this
class of roofing, and where a few years ttgo eighteen
or twenty thousand sipiares might bave been needed,
now four or five thonsanti at tbe outside will satisfy all
requirements, with a great deal of uncertainty on price,
as most of tbe trades are made on special contract.
In addition to ability to find a market for tbeir pro¬
duct, however, manufacturers have been greatly
benefited by the absence of labor troubles of a serious
character and a decided narroij'ing down of (lie bit) er
and unprofitable competition that so seriously ham¬
pered business in previous seasons and especially dur¬
ing the immediately preceding year. Indeed, after
coinmencingat an advance of 35(i7i50e. per square, mat.-
tors ran along smoothly without shriukage on cost, but
occasionally a little better, and this was maintained to
tbe end on Bangor black slate, but iu September there
was a break of 35c. by a Pen Argyl Company on their
product, and. sea-green slate became quite unsettled
at a oonsiiierable greater ^haaingv  gome recoyery





of tone has since taken place and the close finds mos
of the leading producers iu a better frame of mind
than a year ago, with a general hope prevailing thiit
tbe roofing slate trade can in future be conducted
upon a healthy and satisfaotoiy basis. Another prom¬
ising feature of tbe situation has been found of late
in the improved conditions of the demand on fureitju
account, and, while the total exports wiU not reach tbe
same figure as in lti80, tbat is easily explained by the
comparative dullness prevailing during tbe earlier
portion of tbe year now under review, Wiien buyers
did take hold, howei-er, it was in a prompt and deter¬
mined manner and at an advance of 2,5c. per square,
tbe rate standing at 84 f. o. b. at New York, and while
a shipment of poor quaUty at $3.75 frightened opera¬
tors into temporprily accepting the same figure on
regular goods tbey soon recovered and put tbe figure
up again to original basis, where it stands at the close,
witb considerable stock iiuder negotiation. As usual
the call comes very largely from tbe Australian trade,
and it is a significant featui* that, in addition to fuller
costof slate, freight cbargesbave also gone up, indicate
ing very plainly, it is thought, tbat wants abroad arr"
of more pronounced character than for sometiia'
past. It is quite probable tbat the surplus accumula¬
tion under which the Australian market bas been
laboring for some years is at last working down and
also surmised that tbe efforts of tbe English shippers
to force their goods into notice has been abandoned
as no longer profitable, witb local operators who
make the export trade a specialty feeling cheerful
over the outlook. It is yet too early to obtain a
record of the miscellaneous product of the slate, in
the form of flagging, blackboards, mantels, etc., but all
the indications are of a character to convey tbe im¬
pression that it ha.= held up well and tbe line of cost
was a little fuller all around. School slates appear
to have found a mucb more satisfactory condition of
business than during tbe season preceding, both in
tbe volume of trade doing and a fuller average range of
values. The increase in cost was most marked iu May
when a cotnbiration of manufacturers settled upon
an advanceof I3}per cent., and tbis bas since been very
fairly adhered to though competition to secure desir¬
able customers was frequently so strong as to lead to
a little cutting and on very attractive contracts the
slash w(Mild at times develop quite decidedly. Sucb
action, bowever, was exceptioiml rather than general,
and on the whole it miirbt, be rjiud asteady market.
Tbe export movementmade nu gain, but held up close
to last year, and there is no reason to suppose that the
foreign trade is being diverted. On the contrary, late
advice.'i are not only favorable but come accompanied
by orders for early shipments in the new year. Home
outlets, bowever, are gradually expandiiip, and there
bas been a noticeable inclination to insist upon hav¬
ing the best qiiality, especially among school boards,
whose ofiicers have liad auy experience in purchasing
supplies.

Comparative prices of Roofing Slate at New York,
January]:

18fi(5,                    1837,                     1888,

Purple.....$6 00® 7 00        $5 OO^iG 00        85 00®B 00

Green...... .6 OO® 7 00          5 00@6 00          5 00®6' 00

Red............@15 00         MMjm-  ■           1350®....

Black......   4 50®. 5 00          3 50®4 00          3 50®5 00

Tbe following is a statement nf tbe  exports of
Roofing Slata from New York for the year 1887:

Pieces.            Value,

South America.............              ';9,800        -    $2,188

West Indies................              82,910                 3,340

Africa....................               6,-Otl                   172

New Zealand and Tasmania             51,600                 1,378

BritishAustraiia........... -■   3.083,041               55,074





Total.





2,303,551





Tous.   Value,    Pieces.





$62,012
Total
Value. Value





Totals,  1880.

"■   1885,

■'    ISRl.

'•    1883.

•■    1883,

'■    IflSl,

■•    1880.

"    18; 9.

•'    1878.

■'    1877,





50       2,000

187       5,743

H'l4     19,066

3,937     50,779

13.3ii7   181,558

4,793     80.935

13,330   319.664

25,565   540,080

The exports from this part in cases, generally con¬
ceded to beaimostentirely composed of School Slates,
are as follows:

-     ,——1867 ——^   ,--------1886--------,

Cases.     Value.     Cases,   Value.





3,825,210
4,1W.304
2,776,2;J6
1,488.236
4,337,801
3.533,527
l,09a,,533
3,085,124
1.834,325
3,895,438





79,061
115,200
88.263
48,3S0
134.2.52
88,135
38,734
a5,2S5
59,183
99,593





79,064
115,306
90,2fi2
54.063
153.318
138,904
220,292
106.330
308,853
046,272





$6,783

8.647

12,005

13.135





Oreat Britain.......    1.351

Continent..........    3.354

East Indies........     3,907

W, Indies, S, A., etc   2,861

Total............   9,433       39,500

Cases,

Total for 1835................      10,573

1SH4................      13,189

1883...............       8.943

"       1KW2.............      14,62.5

"       188!  ..............       14,414

1880.....■.........       15.674

1879................      17,505

"       187.^................      13.374

1877................       8,675





1,385
3.330
2.343
a.420

9.498





$5,697

11,345

9,58'-

14,181

40,804
Value.
$49,965
53,031
40,874
68,1.50
63,104
76.709
74.351
88,315
68,437

STONE.—Operations in building stone have been
upon tbe most liberal scale, and the business of 1667
will rank among the largest of any one year on^
record The great number of flrst-class dwellings
especially on tbe west side, to which architectural
plans bave given a full stone front or extra beav.y
trimming, in addition to a fair proportion of public
and ^Iber large structures requiring the eame class of
material, created an exhaust that must have delighted
the haarta of quarrymen in all parts of tbe country,
for not only bas the quantity proven full, but the
variety very great, as if builders were striving among
themselves to fee just how many contrasts of shade
and condition tbey could bring into use. Indeed, it is
possible that a little carelessness has been dlsplaved
in the matter of quality, as may be disclosed when
climatic influences have had time to assert them¬
selves on hitherto untried slock. Al! kinds of stone tit
for the purposes mentioned have found advocates and
consumers, with sandstones tbe most popular, but
beyond tbat we can make no enumeration of the
domestic product, as each and every quarry from
whence slojk has come to band seemx to be consid¬
ered a little the beat by its representative agent, and
It Is preferable not to make any distinctive mention.
Some marble haa been consumed, but mainly in sills
and lintels, tbe offeringa of which were at very low
and attractive rates. In the way of imported stock
the Scotch red santlstoae baa continued in excellent